A solid-state image pickup device comprises for each pixel a photoelectric converter PD, an input terminal FD of a signal amplifier and a transfer switch TX for transferring an optical signal from the photoelectric converter to the input terminal. The device additionally comprises means for resetting the photoelectric converter by opening the transfer switch TX under a condition of holding the voltage of the input terminal FD to a fixed high level before storing the optical signal in the photoelectric converter PD. With this arrangement, any residual electric charge in the photoelectric converter can be eliminated without paying the cost of reducing the manufacturing yield and degrading the chip performance.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A solid-state image pickup device comprising a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally and being provided with, for each pixel, a photoelectric converter, a signal amplifier with an input section therefor, a transfer switch for transferring an electric charge from the photoelectric converter to the input section, and a reset switch for applying a reset voltage to the input section, wherein the device is adapted to operate, for each pixel, such that: the reset switch and the transfer switch are turned on together at least in a predetermined first reset period to reset an electric charge at the photoelectric converter; then the transfer switch are turned off to store a photoelectric charge in the photoelectric converter for a predetermined storage period; then the reset switch is turned off to read out a noise component from the signal amplifier; subsequently the transfer switch is turned on at least in a predetermined transfer period while the reset switch is held in a off state to read out a light signal based on the photoelectric charge stored in the photoelectric converter from the signal amplifier; and thereafter the reset switch and the transfer switch are turned on together at least in a predetermined second reset period to reset an electric charge at the photoelectric converter and wherein the device is adapted to operate such that: electric charges at the photoelectric converters of the pixels in plural pixel rows are reset at a time in the first reset period; and electric charges at the photoelectric converters of the pixels in a pixel row are reset at a time in the second reset period.
2. A solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises an A/D converter for converting an input signal read out from a pixel and a memory cell for writing a digital signal converted by the A/D converter.
3. A solid-state image pickup device according to claim 2 , wherein the memory cell is provided for each pixel.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 12, 2009
February 21, 2012
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